REVIEW:: MOUNT GAY MASTER BLENDER COLLECTION::POT STILL RUM
Dover Beach, Barbados
Last year, I was lucky enough to visit Barbados to attend the wedding of our beautiful friends Eric and Nneka. They have always been big Mount Gay fans, speaking very highly of it, and so I knew that my visit would include many Mount Gay Rum punches on Dover Beach, which are fantastic by the way! At the time I didn’t know much about rum, or drink much of it for that matter, but I was super eager to learn more about it. A few months before my trip, I started doing some basic research, which included asking people their opinions on different styles of rum, and reading lots of rum based blogs, and educating myself on what makes rum, well…rum! I knew that a visit to Mount Gay was in order, and I am so glad that I made the visit to learn more about their 300 + years of rum making magic.
Mount Gay Visitor Center
The visitor center, located in Bridgetown, is such a great experience, led by some incredibly knowledgeable guides, eager to share the gospel of Mount Gay rum. When I arrived, I was greeted by Tina (and a rum punch!) our tour guide for the day, and she walked us though the history of rum in Barbados, production, and the ins and outs of what makes Mount Gay the Bajan Institution that it is. During the tour, she mentioned to us that their Master Blender, Allen Smith, was going to be retiring that year, and Trudiann Branker, the company’s very first female Master Blender was going to be taking the helm, which was very exciting news! Trudiann has over a decade of experience in the industry, having started her Mount Gay career as the Quality Assurance Manager, where she worked closely with Allen Smith.
While on the tour, I tasted through Mount Gay’s core expressions, as well as the Master Blender Collection: XO The Peat Smoke Expression.. I remember really falling for rum in that moment as Tina and Rhea walked me through the beautiful range of rums that Mount Gay produces. As a whisky drinker by heart, it was amazing to recognize the similarities between the two spirits, and also made me a bit sad that I had been missing out on this incredible spirit for so long. The experience really opened my olfactory system to new aromas and flavors I’ve never had in whisky too, gifting me a huge learning moment.
Tina and Rhea, the power houses of Mount Gay knowledge!
I remember we came home with quite a few bottles of Mount Gay, including the 1703 Master Select, XO and Black Barrel. Needless to say, I was impressed and jumped right into learning more about this extraordinary spirit!
Fast forward a year later, and I am now very pleased to say that I am able to review Trudiann’s first release from the Master Blender Collection: Pot Still Rum! Over the past few weeks that I have had this bottle, I have mentioned to my husband numerous times how much I really enjoy drinking his rum. Not only does it transport me back to Bridgetown, soaking up every ounce of sunshine and rum knowledge, but it brings me such immense joy to drink something that is crafted by a woman who is blazing her trail as a Master Blender, a goal that I have been working towards in my short time here in the world of spirits. I know this role does not come easily, and is charged with years of hard work and dedication, and learning about Trudiann’s path and her dedication to Mount Gay and its future just makes this all the more special. So not only is this bottle a journey of sensorial pleasures, it too is a reminder that this industry is exploding with incredible women who are gifting the world of distilled spirits an even brighter future.
Now, for the details…
MOUNT GAY MASTER BLENDER COLLECTION: POT STILL RUM
With the second edition of the Master Blender Collection, Trudiann wanted to highlight rum’s oldest and most traditional distillation technique, The Copper Pot Still. Typically, Mount Gay uses a blend of both copper pot and column still rums to achieve their bespoke flavors. This release is solely copper pot distillate.
DISTILLATION: DOUBLE RETORT COPPER POT STILLS
CASK TYPE: EX-WHISKEY
AGE: 10 YEARS
ABV: 48% (CASK STRENGTH)
SRP: $ 170
ONLY 4,920 BOTTLES AVAILABLE GLOBALLY, WITH ONLY 1,002 AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.
I enjoyed this both neat and on a large cube of ice, but the following review is based while enjoying it neat.
NOSE: The nose on this is just absolutely intoxicating. Aromas of peanut brittle and candied pralines explode into the air. Leather and waves a plum jelly make your mouth water with anticipation.
PALATE: Hello mouthfeel! Rich and velvety pops of sweet spice erupt in the front of the mouth, and then a warm wave of rich dried fruits and molasses cake trickle down your throat. Waves of toffee and date swirl and swirl leaving you with just the right amount of sweetness to rest.
FINISH: Oaky and warm. It sits in the back of the mouth and radiates pops of heat and then mellows out into a buttery finish.
Friends, this rum is truly fantastic. I honestly have enjoyed drinking this every single time it is in my glass. It’s creamy and succulent, carries some weight, and truly delivers on both flavor and body. It is super meaty, no part of this feels thin or weak. The flavor profile is so well balanced, as it’s not too sweet, nor too savory. It’s just a lovely example of how beautiful rum can be. I feel so lucky to be sipping on it.
While the world of rum may be newer to me than whisky, I know a great spirit when I taste it. This is a shining star, and I am eager to see what other magic Trudiann Branker creates in the warm sunshine of Barbados, as she continues on her path to enrich the rum tradition at Mount Gay.
The Fine Print: This bottle was provided to me by Mount Gay. All photos and views are my own. This review is honest, and in no way swayed by the professional relationship between me and the brand. I was lucky enough to have an introduction to this brand last year on my travels, and I am now lucky enough to be writing about a product I truly believe in. Honest and upfront is how I promise to keep this. Massive thank you to Mount Gay and Trudiann for allowing me this opportunity to review this stunning rum.
MOUNT GAY RUM
Spring Garden Hwy, Bridgetown, Barbados
